Stories

Good News–US Domestic Ivory Ban Announced

Although international trade in ivory has been banned since 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) does not have jurisdiction over domestic trade. Only national legislation can limit trading of ivory within...

A Quiet Christmas Darkened only by the Fall of Pompeii

This time last year the fresh carcasses of at least 26 elephants that had been killed for their ivory scarred the landscape surrounding Samburu National Reserve in Kenya, where Save the Elephants has its research base. A year on, and these...

Out of Tragedy, Hope: the Orphans Project

The Planets were once among the biggest and widest ranging family in Samburu. More than 35 strong, they were led by an old matriarch named Dunia (Earth, in Swahili) who was estimated to have been born in 1948. The family’s troubles started in...

Community Outreach: A day with Boda Boda Operators

It is widely believed that Boda Boda bikers - Kenyan taxi drivers on motorbikes - aid in transporting many illegal goods including ivory, in and around Archer’s Post, an important outpost in Samburu, Kenya. In light of this, together with...

Nasuulu’s “Whole”-in-One

All the troops are gathered over the hill to the South of STE, in Nasuulu conservancy. This time, it is for a joyous and momentous occasion. Finally, the conservancy is breaking ground on its headquarters. Three years ago this landscape was...

Collars Galore!

I have been incredibly fortunate to assist with four collaring operations in three days, two on the 18th and two on the 21st. There have been several collars sitting in camp since I arrived, but unfortunately no vet to immobilize the target...

Night of the raiding elephants

The night of Friday, the tenth of January 2014, marked the first crop-raid of the season in the Mwakoma Village( Sagalla, Voi). I can’t say whether it was lucky or unlucky that we were around to witness the event, but it was good that we were...

Interning at Save The Elephants

January 11, 2014 My name is Sarah and I arrived at the camp two days ago for a one month internship with STE. I am in my second year of the Master’s program in Behavioural Ecology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. For my thesis I am...